An Irish Whiskey Primer: 7 of the Best Bottles to Drink Now

Chances are, your introduction to Irish whiskey was similar to your initial taste of tequila—via shot glass. And that's just the worst way to first consume, well, anything. Truth is, Irish whiskey deserves a lot more respect than it receives from the amateur drinking set: The best of them can hold their own against your favorite bourbons and scotches—which you shouldn't be shooting, either.

The world of Irish whiskey is a difficult one to crack, however, with many of the best varieties unavailable outside of Ireland. (And, truth be told, there's too much bad stuff to weed through.) To demystify the spirit, we talked to Jack McGarry, head bartender of New York's The Dead Rabbit—which has one of the finest collections of Irish whiskies in the country—for the bottles that will be worth drinking long after St. Patrick's Day.

Photo: Jace Lumley

Redbreast 12 Year Old

"This is one of my go-tos," says McGarry. "We use it in a lot of cocktails, because it has a great mouthfeel, but it's also excellent for sipping." Expect to be hit with a lot of plum and spice. If you want something with even more richness, go for the Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength ($82), which is a soul-warming 115 proof.

$52, 40% ABV

Photo: Redbreast

Bushmills 10, 16, and 21 Year Old Single Malt

"I love all of these," says McGarry. But if he had to pick just one? "The 10 year-old ($50, 40% ABV) is just a beautifully made whiskey. It's got a good hint of bourbon in it." The 16 year old ($75, 40%ABV) is aged in ex-Bourbon barrels, Oloroso sherry casks, and finished in port wood—it's packed with spice, vanilla and chocolate complexity. The 21 year-old ($108, 40% ABV), which is aged in a similar mix of casks, amps up the fullness.

Photo: Bushmills

Tyrconnel Single Malt

"Anybody who comes in and says, 'I want something different, I've had Jameson before,' I usually recommend this," says McGarry. "It's well-crafted spirit. And at 30 bucks a bottle, you just cannot beat the value." It's inexpensive enough to shoot, but that would be a shame; stock up on this as your regular sipper.

$30, 40% ABV

Photo: thewhiskeyexchange.com

Tyrconnel 10 Year Old Sherry Cask Finish

"Tyrconnel was one of the first distillers to really play around with wood finishes," explains McGarry. "They have three different 10-year expressions—sherry, port, and madeira. It gives you clear idea what different wood finishes can have on a whiskey." It's difficult to find a place that carries all three expressions, but it's worth seeking out and collecting all of them. The sherry cask finish—McGarry's favorite—is available here. Try it after dinner.

$70, 40% ABV

Photo: thewhiskeyexchange.com

Locke's 8 Year Old

"This is what I envision an Irish whiskey to be," says McGarry. "In the 19th century, Irish whiskey was the best-selling whiskey in America, much more popular than scotch. This is definitely the type of Irish whiskey I imagine was popular in America back then." Unfortunately for us, it's not available Stateside. If you're heading to Ireland, be sure to bring some home. "If I could get it over here, I would use it in a lot of my cocktails."

Chances are, your introduction to Irish whiskey was similar to your initial taste of tequila—via shot glass. And that's just the worst way to first consume, well, anything. Truth is, Irish whiskey deserves a lot more respect than it receives from the amateur drinking set: The best of them can hold their own against your favorite bourbons and scotches—which you shouldn't be shooting, either.

The world of Irish whiskey is a difficult one to crack, however, with many of the best varieties unavailable outside of Ireland. (And, truth be told, there's too much bad stuff to weed through.) To demystify the spirit, we talked to Jack McGarry, head bartender of New York's The Dead Rabbit—which has one of the finest collections of Irish whiskies in the country—for the bottles that will be worth drinking long after St. Patrick's Day.